We Can Do More With Your Support
Colchester Museums Development Foundation supports Colchester Museums to inspire and enrich our local community, through the preservation, exploration, and sharing of the town’s heritage in its widest sense.
- Increase Colchester Museums’ capacity to offer accessible events and programmes.
- Provide new opportunities for engaging with Colchester Museums’ collections and research.
- Support and inform new initiatives across Colchester Museums that involve and reflect the diverse members of our community.
- Expand Colchester Museums’ reach and impact through collaboration with community groups and businesses.
Ways To Support
The Trustees
Sophie Weaver (Chair)
Sophie worked at Colchester Museums for a number of years before going freelance as an access consultant, where she has continued her access work in the cultural sector, working with many of the national museums. She also has become a podcaster and events host, whilst continuing to champion equal access for all.
Glyn Barritt
Glyn spent many years in higher and secondary education, directing programmes to support the effective use of teaching and learning technologies. Her role brought her into regular contact with education leaders, teachers and students, the DfE and sponsors from every corner of society. She is now enjoying opportunities to learn more about Colchester’s rich history and through the CMDF, is keen to explore ways of bringing that history to life and to promote the important role Colchester has played in the nation’s heritage. (@glynbarritt)
Philip Berners
Philip is lecturer and course leader for the events management degree programmes at the Edge Hotel School, University of Essex, Colchester campus and has a career organising high-profile events in the UK and Europe. He wants to bring his events expertise to the CMDF because he lives and works in Colchester and has ties with the town going back to 1980, so “it is about time I gave something back!”
Mark Cheeseman OBE
Mark is a Senior Civil Servant in the Cabinet Office, overseeing the government’s Counter Fraud and Grants Management Functions. He has undertaken various counter fraud, operations management and project management roles throughout his Civil Service career. Having studied Archaeology in University and undertaken a Masters in Roman Archaeology, he is enthusiastic for our history and heritage and continues to take an active interest in both preserving it for future generations and making it widely accessible.
Denise Fiennes
An arts professional, and psychotherapist, Denise has been involved with music, dance, heritage and education for over 40 years as a consultant, board member or Vice Chairman, including English National Ballet and Friends of the Ipswich Museums. She is Vice Chairman of the Friends of the Ipswich Museums and a psychotherapist with an online practice and works with Teenage Mental Health in Ipswich.
Frank Hargrave
Frank is Colchester + Ipswich Museums Manager. As his PhD focussed on the Later Iron Age, Colchester’s incredible archaeology from the period holds a special significance to him. For Frank, the CMDF offers an opportunity to both help protect some of the heritage of the town and to provide better access to it for new audiences.
Lizzi Hollis
Lizzi is Head of Major Gifts and Comms at Richard House Children’s Hospice, having spent 10 years working in a variety of fundraising roles. She brings to CMDF this professional knowledge and a passion for Archaeology, having studied the subject at the University of Reading.
Cllr Darius Laws
Cllr. Laws is Portfolio Holder for Economy, Business and Heritage in Colchester, and a founding Guardian for Life Member of CMDF. He believes that preserving our town’s heritage is of utmost importance. Colchester Museums are the guardians of over 2,000 years of history, but we must all work together to preserve this legacy for future generations to enjoy and share.
Andrew Lynn
Andrew has worked in the charity sector for over 20 years, recently at UNICEF UK, specialising in data and its use in fundraising. He has always loved museums and as a CMDF Trustee wants to help make Colchester Museums more inclusive, improving the museums with exciting developments.
Lawrence Walker
Lawrence is an American expat and the Chairman of Black History Month Colchester. He works with BAME Community groups and charitable organisations in Colchester.
Rachel Walton
Rachel is an author and trainer, with a strong background in community development. She has been instrumental in forming direct links with ethnic minority groups and individuals. Her work through training, development and capacity building aims to bridge the gap between underrepresented ethnic minority groups and access to public services.
Nick Wickenden
Nick recently retired from Chelmsford Museum as its archaeologist and manager, dealing with a variety of heritage projects. He moved to Colchester in 1986 and is Chair of Colchester Archaeological Trust. He would now like to use this experience for the benefit of Colchester Museums.
Venues
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